Ladbrokes Fillies' Handicap

Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 2m 39.03s

(4)

Birch Grove¹⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Simcock| OR: 73| C

6/4

Improved with each run so far and appeared to appreciate the drop in trip when opening her account here. Needs to prove she needs this far but likely there is more to come on handicap debut.

Form: 4/41-

(3)

French Riviera¹⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 72

7/2

Had six turf starts in France last year, mainly on a soft surface, running with consistent promise. Plenty of stamina in her pedigree suggests she may appreciate this step up in trip on AW, British and stable debut. One to note in the betting.

Form: 345043-

(1)

Sula Island³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: A King| OR: 71| BF| D

12/1

Not seen on the Flat since last July with five runs (including a win) over hurdles since. Returns in a tough race and 7lb higher than sole Flat win. Failed to impress on previous visit here and others preferred.

Form: 832134-

(2)

Vampish⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: P J McBride| OR: 69

11/2

Nine-race maiden but has gone close and run to a similar standard the last twice. Stays this far and may improve again for a step back up in trip. Likely to be involved.

Form: 329-052

(6)

Tappity Tap^h²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 67

7/2

Plenty of promise when improving on her debut to finish third over 1m1.5f here before a disappointing run at Chelmsford. Worth a return to here and pedigree suggests she should stay. Looks to be on a good mark on handicap debut and a leading hope.

Form: 6-33

(5)

Folies Bergeres^b¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Liam Jones| T: G Harris| OR: 60

20/1

Sole win came in maiden company but after a poor run of form at least shaped better when fourth over 1m6f on her second start for a new yard. Likely to find life tough though up in grade.

Form: 4620-04

Forecasts

Birch Grove (6/4), French Riviera (7/2), Tappity Tap (7/2), Vampish (11/2), Sula Island (12/1), Folies Bergeres (20/1)

A tricky race with a British debutante and two making their handicap debuts and it is one of the latter who gets the verdict as a chance is taken that TAPPITY TAP can return to the form of her run at this track, which would leave her very nicely handicapped for an in-form stable. Vampish is proving consistent while Birch Grove is progressive and likely to improve again this year providing she stays the trip.